Paul Hunter was a great lad, loved by everybody in snooker, remembers Ronnie O’Sullivan on the anniversary of Hunter’s tragic death in 2006.
The man known as the Beckham of the Baize died at just 27 years old after being diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours.
Hunter and wife Lindsey had welcomed their daughter just months before he passed away, shortly before his 28th birthday in October ’06.
The Yorkshireman had already become a three-time Masters champion and won three ranking events, establishing himself as one of the best players on the planet, who reached a ranking high of number four in the world.
His flamboyant style of play certainly helped, but his personality was also a reason why he was so popular and the Rocket remembers the great impact the charismatic young star had on snooker.
‘I got on good with Paul,’O’Sullivan told Metro. ‘He was a great talent, great player, great lad.
‘It was just such a shame, wasn’t it? To go so young, having just had a baby as well. Heart-breaking.
‘He had a massive impact on snooker. Any sport needs characters and Paul was definitely great for snooker. He’ll never be forgotten, you know, never be forgotten. Paul, in snooker, he was loved by everybody.’
Hunter and O’Sullivan seemed well matched on the table, having some great battles, but none greater than the 2004 Masters final which went all the way to a deciding frame.
The Rocket had led 7-2, but Hunter scrapped all the way back to win 10-9 to win his third Masters title in four years.
On his most memorable Hunter moment, O’Sullivan said: ‘Obviously, the Masters final was the big one, wasn’t it?
‘He played tremendously well. Came back, played some unbelievable snooker. It was an unbelievable atmosphere in the Wembley Conference Centre.’
Hunter would have been turning 47 later this month if he hadn’t tragically suffered the fatal illness at such a young age and O’Sullivan has no doubt he would still be competing with the best.
‘He’d definitely still be playing Paul for sure,’ he said. ‘He was at that levelwhere he wasn’t going anywhere. He a great all round game.’
From 2017 onwards the Masters trophy has been known as the Paul Hunter Trophy, in tribute to the man who dominated the event from 2001-04.
O’Sullivan was the first player to lift the Paul Hunter Trophy, beating Joe Perry in the 2017 final.
The Rocket has previously said he believes he and Hunter were part of the best top six in the world in snooker history.
‘I’ve always said that snooker enjoyed a golden era when [Stephen] Hendry, [John] Higgins, [Mark] Williams, [Matthew] Stevens, the great Paul Hunter and myself were battling it out,’ O’Sullivan told The Mirror.
‘I truly believe that was the best top six ever.’